Package forming and sealing machine



IH MIHHIH Feb. 3, 1953 v. CHENEY ETAL PACKAGE FORMING AND SEALING MACHINE 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 31, I949 JNVENTORS. VAo L. CHENEY MAX E. TOBY Feb. 3, 1953 v. L. CHENEY a-rm.

PACKAGE FORMING AND SEALING MACHINE Filed May 31, 1949 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 m m-HMIH mm mW-HM-H i M m m m V40 L CHENEY MAX 5 Z) VQ mm a Feb. 3, 1953 v. 1.. CHENEY ETAL 2,627,150

PACKAGE FORMING AND SEALING MACHINE Filed May 31, 1949 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTORS. l/Ao L. CHE/V5) BY MAX 7 05) Patented Feb. 3, 1953 {PACKAGE FORMING AND SEALING MACHINE 1 VaoLCheney, SanLeandro, and Max E. Toby, san lfraneisco, Calif assi'gnors t Chip Steak Company, Oakland, Calif;, a corporation of California Application May 31, 1949, Serial No. 96,296

10 Claims.

This inventionrelates to machines, for forming package envelopes from sheet material.

An object of the inventionistoprovide a machine, capable of operation :at a comparatively high rate of speed, ,for forming and separating individual hermetically sealedpack'ages from continuous supply strips of, sheet material.

Another object of the invention is to provide a machine of the character described in which one of a pair of strips of material, from which individual packages will be subs'equentlyiormed and separated, serves as conveying means for receiving and transporting articles tobe packaged in proper order to ,andthrough the mechanisms which form and separate .the packages from the parent strip material.

Alurther object of the invention, is to provide, in a machine of the class described, improved strip feeding control mechanism ,which insures that individual packing-forming components of the parent sheet material are properly positioned and brought to a complete stop relative to the mechanism for separating theformed. packages from the parent strip before ,said separating mechanism may function.

(o1. e a-2 5) Still another object of the invention is to pro- T vide, in a machine of the character referred to havingpositive drive mechanism for linearly advancing a strip of sheet material, means timed with the linear movement of the strip for instantly stoppingithe latter without perceptible overrun at uniformlyspaced points relative to the linear dimension of the strip. A stillfurther objectof the invention is to provide, in apparatus for the typereferred to,.fnovel means for synchronizing independently driven strip feed and cut-offmechanisms', so that cuts will be madein the strip materialiin proper relation to individual packagesformed therein irrespective of disparities in the relative normal operational speeds of. the strip feeding and. cut-off mechanisms.

It is another object of theinventionto provide novel means, in aimachine of the class described including a selectively engageable and releasable clutch mechanismwhich is sensitive, and capable of rapid operation in actuating the control element of such a clutch mechani'sm.

The invention possesseslother objectsand features of advantage, some ofwhich, with the foregoing, will be set forth in the "following description of the preferred form of the'in'vention which is illustrated in the drawings accompanying'and forming part of the speciiicatioiiflt is" to be understood, however tliat variations in the showing made by the said-drawings and description maybe adopted within the scope of the invention as setforth in the claims.

' Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a portional top plan view of the package forming and sealing machine of my in- 'vention, a section of the loading table being .of Figure 1.

Figure 3A is a view similar toFigure 3 showing the mechanism parts in intermediate positions of their operative cycles Figure 3B is a view, equivalent to Figure 3A showing further positions of the mechanism parts in their operative cycles.

Figure 4 is an enlarg'ed scale side elevational view of a portion of the machine viewed in the plane indicated by the line 4-4 of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is'an enlarged scale vertical sectional view taken in the plane indicated by the line In carrying out our invention, we provide a suitable supporting structure here shown in Figure 21 as comprising a structural steel base plate or frame 6 attached to and rising from which is a plurality of support legs I interconnected by suitable tiebars 8 and braces 9 to impart proper rigidity to'the group of support legs. Connected to a portion of the vertically extending support frame, preferably the upper ends of the legs], is a horizontally extended table structure here shown as comprising a pair of parallel f' side rails I9, formed of suitable structural bars,

which are joined at "end and intermediate portions by laterally "extending cross members H superposed on which is a plate l2 or its equivalent which provides a table surface extending along the major portion of the length of the side rails wand terminating short of one end cross memher to provide an enlarged opening, generally indicated by'ithe numerals l3 of Figure l, which extends vertically through what will hereinafter be referred to'fas the discharge end of the table, theopposite endand adjacent portions of the table being hereinafter referred to as the loadin'gend.

At a point substantially medially of the length of the table; and also at a point closely adjacent to the extreme outer loading end thereof, is'provided a pairo'f relatively spaced supports here shown as each comprising verticallwextending 3 side frames, which may conveniently consist of axially vertical posts |4, secured at their bottom ends to the side rails 0, having horizontal header bars l6 attached in any suitable manner to their upper ends and arranged in spaced parallel relationship laterally of the table. Each of the header bars [6 serves as the elevated foundation for one of laterally opposed pairs of bearings each comprising relatively superposed base and cap sections I! and I3 respectively joined at one end by a pivot pin [9 and at the opposite end by a stud 2| carried by the base section ll, extending upwardly through a suitable clearance opening provided in the cap section It and threadedly engaged with a wing nut 22 or its equivalent which overlies and engages the cap section. A journal bore 23, whose horizontal axis lies preferably in the separation plane 24 between the base and cap sections of the bearing, is provided in each bearing and is axially aligned with the similar bore of the companion bearing which is disposed laterally of the machine table. In the journal bores 23 of each related pair of bearings are disposed the opposite ends of axially horizontal shafts 26 which serve as axle supports for supply rolls 2'! of strip package-forming material, the strip 28 from the outermost supply roll being threaded under a suitable guide roller 29, as shown in Figure 2, and thereafter passed along the table to subsequently form the bottom closure sheet for the package as will be later explained, while the strip 3| from the other supply roll is threaded under a similar guide roller 32 and is passed along the table in superposed relation to the strip 28 to subsequently form the upper closure sheet for the package. The split bearing type of support for the supply roll shafts is provided so that replacement rolls of strip material may be rapidly mounted and may also function, if desired, as braking means so that by setting of the wing nuts 22 a frictional pressure of the bearing sections on the shafts may be secured which will offer resistance to rotation of the shafts and their associated supply rolls as the strips 28 and 3| are moved along the table thus insuring that a desirable degree of tautness is maintained in the strips at all times. Of course, in order to secure this operation, it will be necessary to fix the supply rolls to their supporting shafts 26, one way of effectin this being shown in Figure 1 wherein the collars 33 carried by the shafts are clamped in tight engagement with the innermost radial side areas of the supply rolls or with the ends of the spools 34 forming the core members of the supply rolls. By referring to Figure 2 it will be seen that the strip 28 passes for a considerable distance along the table between the respective supply roll supports and it is in this area of the table that the operation of loading of the articles 36 to be packaged on the moving bottom strip 23 is performed, by the latter strip, as clearly shown in Figure 1, being provided along one edge with preferably opaque imprint marks 31 spaced apart a distance equivalent to the desired side dimension of the finished package and defining transverse bounding planes of the successive strip areas in each of which an article 36 to be packaged is manually placed and centralized by the machine operator. Thus the bottom strip serves as a conveyor for carrying the articles 36 in prearranged and uniformly spaced order toward and under the guide roller 32 of the supply roll dispensing the upper strip whereat the latter strip overlies the articles to be packaged and may 4 be subsequently sealed to the bottom strip to en close the articles in their packages.

The sheet material employed for the strips 28 and 3| is preferably a resinoid film commonly referred to as cellophane, the so-called waterproof or surface coated variety of the latter being most desirable. However any material which is impregnated or coated with substances capable of adhering or fusing under applications of heat and/or pressure, so as to hold with a high degree of tenacity, may be used as well. Such materials may comprise, for instance, heavily waxed or latex-coated papers. The most desirable material however is the cellophane due to its transparency, so that the packaged product may be shown to best advantage, to its ready acceptability of printing inks for package decoration and the like and to the rapid fusibility of its surface coating which under comparatively low heat and pressure is capable of bonding securely with the surface coating of another intimately engaged sheet to form a very tight impervious.

naled rocker shafts 39 and rotatable drive shafts 4| arranged in vertically spaced pairs above and below the plane of the engaged strips 28 and 3| and extending, axially, transversely thereacross. At intermediate points in the length of each rocker shaft 39 is secured, by pins 42 or the like, a horizontally spaced pair of radially extending arms 43 in the distal ends of which is journaled a roll shaft 44 and in intermediate portions of which is similarly journaled an idler shaft. 45, all of the shafts 39, 4|, 44 and 46 being in parallel relation with each other. Each of the roll shafts 44 is provided at opposite ends thereof with circular sealing rolls 4'! having internal recesses 48 opening at the outer faces of the rolls and bordered by rims 49 which have their outer peripheries provided with preferably groove knurling 5|. In each of the sealing roll recesses 48 is disposed a disk-shaped electric heater unit 52 which is free of the shaft 44 and the roll 41, so that the heater unit may remain stationary as the shaft and roll rotate, and which is provided with current-supply conductors 53 connected with a source of current for energization of the heater units so that heat radiated from the latter will maintain the sealing roll 41 and particularly the rim portion 49 thereof at a desired temperature. Means are provided for driving at least one set of the sealing rolls so as to effect rotation thereof. As here shown, each of the roll shafts 44 has a gear 54 secured thereto which meshes with a primary idler gear 56 secured to and rotatable with the idler shaft 46, the latter gear being in mesh with a secondary idler gear 51 freely journaled on the rocker shaft 39 and meshing with a drive gear 58 secured to and rotatable with the drive shaft 4|. It will be thus seen that rotation of the drive shaft 4| will be imparted to the roll shaft 44 by the gear train just described. Secured to corresponding ends of the rocker shafts 39 are intermeshed quadrant gears 59 one of which has an operating lever .61 extending radially upwardly therefrom whose function is to provide a timed rotational movement of the quadrant (gears "59 and a corresponding rocking movement of the shafts 39., by mechanism "to be su'bsequen'tlydescribed, so that the respective pairs of sealing rolls '41 will be caused to approach and recede from the plane of the engaged strips 28 and '31. With the sealing rolls rotational motion, :relative radial approach thereof will cause the strips 28 and 31 to be clamped between the knurled peripheries thereby causing the marginal side portions of the strips to be crimpedinto'intimate contact with each other and as a result of such crimping to be effectively meshed "with the rolls so that continued.rotational'movement of the latter will serve to draw the strips and the articles to be packaged carried by the bottom strip '28., longitudinally along the table. Of course, during such operation, the heated rolls will effect softening of the surface coating of the sheets and consequently "the sheets, in the "marginal areas thereof, engaged by "the rolls, will be fused into intimate permanent engagement. It will be seen that as long as the sealing rolls are in clamping engagement with the strips '28 and 3| the aforesaid movement of the sheets "will continue, the said movement being capable of being instantly interrupted at any time by the action of causing the upper and lower pairs of has a worm pinion 62 secured to "and rotatable therewith each of the latter gears being in mesh with a worm '63 carried by a shaft "64 which is journaled in suitable bearings, formed on the downward extension ofone of the support -memb'ers 38 journaling the shafts 39 and 4|, and which has attached to the outer end thereof a preferably peripherally grooved pulley 61 tractionally engaging a loop belt 68 likewise engaged with a pulley '69 mounted on the drive shaft H of a motor 12 "suitably attached by a mounting bracket 13 or the like to a side rail of the table or to any convenient portion of the supporting frame thereof. By this gearing arrangement it will be seen that thesealin'grolls t! maybe rotated, upon energizat-i'onofthe motorTZ in relatively counter directions and in synchronism so that when the sealing rolls are moved radially together into substantial peripheral engagement the package strips 28 and 3| and'the articles 36 carried by the bottom strip -28'wi ll 'be caused to move along the table at a linear speed corresponding to the peripheral velocityof the rotating sealing rolls. It will also be seen that the moment tractional grip oftherolls on the sheets is ceased by movement apart of therolls, the

linear motion of thepackage sheets will be instantly halted regardless of whether or not the sealing rolls continue .torotate. The particular worm gearing drive herein shown was chosen with a view towardsimplification of the drawings but it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the same end result may be obtained in a number of different ways. For instance, only one of the shafts 4| need be driven through a worm andgear from the motor 12, the gears '5'! being then interconnected by. a suitable "pair of idler gears. Infact it'is. also .possible to drive only one of the pairs of 'upperor lower sealing rolls since the intermeshing of the peripheral grooves of the rolls, when the "latter are in engagement to pinch the package sheets there'between, is fully sufficient to impart rotation from one 'sealing'roll to *the other and thus effect linear movement of the package strips.

Means are provided for causing the upper and lower sealing rolls to intermittently approach and recede from each other so as to effect linear movement of the package sheets along the table in measured increments. Journaled in suitable bearings 14 provided at the upper ends of the support members 38 is an axially horizontal cam shaft Hi, extending transversely across "and above the table, on one end of which isjourna led a flywheel "I1 preferably peripherally grooved to tra'c tionally engage one 'or more endless drive belts 78 which are similarly engaged with a drive pulley 19 carried by the "shaft 81 of a main drive motor 82 attached to a base bracket '83 suitably mounted on an end portion of the table supporting frame. On the shaft 16 is fixedly mounted a throw-out cam '84 engageable and cooperative with a roller 86 journaled 'on an axially horizontal pin 81 secured to the outer end of the operating lever Bl which, as was previously explained, is fixed to one 'of the rocker shafts 39. Although the motor .82 operates continuously 'to rotate the flywheel "H, "the camshaft is capable of controlled intermittent rotation. "This is accomplished by interposing suitable selectively engageable and releasable clutching means between the flywheel and camshaft which 'clutchingmeans may conveniently comprise the type employed in conventional punch press drives wherein a sleeve 88 forming one element of the clutch mechanism is fixed to and is capable of rotation with the camshaft 1.6 while the flywheel 11 which is freely j'ournaled on the sleeve forms the other element 'of the clutch mechanism. A sliding or rocking key carried by the sleeve is reciprocable to relatively engage or disengag the clutch elements so as to connect the flywheel to and for rotation with the camshaft or to effect disengagement thereof this being accomplished by operation of a radially extending trip finger '89 which is attached to and is movable with the above mentioned sliding or rocking key. Normally, the key is held inen'gagement by spring pressure, as iswell known in the art, so that the elements of the clutch arerel'atively engaged to connect the flywheel and camshaft together for rotation in unison, such engagement of the clutch key being accompanied by movement of the trip finger iiilto aposition adjacent to the end of the sleeve 88. During the'ensuing rotation of the flywheeland sleeve the trip finger will rotate with the latter. Disengaging of'the clutch may be effected by a release lever 9|, shown in Figure 3, which is mounted adjacent its lower end on a pivot pin 92 carried'by one of the support members 38 and whose wedge-shaped upper end portion 93 may be moved into and out of the path of rotation of the trip finger 89. If, during engagement of the clutch, the end of the release lever should be moved into said path, the trip finger will engage the intruding end and will be forcedthereby to move away from the sleeve 88 so as to withdraw the clutch key "and disengage the flywheel from the sleeve. Such disengagement takes place instantaneously and brings the trip finger 89 back to its initial starting position. If the release lever 9| is subsequently swung outwardly away from the trip finger, the latter" will again'be released toengage the clutch and to maintain such engagement for a single revolution of the flywheel and cam- Shaft if in the interim the release lever is again returned to its inward position to engage and retract the rotating trip finger. Such limiting of the camshaft I6 to single intermittent rotational movements is utilized to assist step by step advancement of the strips I8 and 3I on the table this being accomplished by providing the cam 84 with separate peripheral portions 94 and 96 of lesser and greater radial curvature respectively the former portion 94, when in engagement with the operating lever roller 86, which engagement is maintained by a spring 91 interposed between the lever 6I anda mounting plate 98 secured to and extending from one of the support members 38, allowing the sealing rolls 41 to relatively approach each other so as to engage and move the package strips I8 and 3| along the table, while the latter portion 96, when rotated to engage the roller 86 effecting an outward swing of the operating lever 6| so as to relatively separate the sealing rolls and consequently stop the linear movement of the package sheets.

Manually actuable means is provided for controlling the engagement of the sealing rolls so as to effect advancement of the package strips in successive increments. Extending along a side of the table in a position wherein it may be conveniently reached by an operator standing in front of the table loading space is a control 99 attached to the ends of which are radiallyextending levers I9I secured to and rotatable with a rocker shaft I92 journaled at end and intermediate' points in bearing brackets I03 attached to and extending from a side rail of the table. To one end of the shaft I92, as shown in Figure 4, is afixed a radially extending arm I94 having at its distal end a universal joint I96 connected to an upwardly directed rod I91 which is pivotally engaged at its upper end to the mid-pivot I98 of a pair of toggle links I89 attached, respectively, by pivot pins II I to the operating lever 6| and to the mounting plate 98. The starting point of the cycline movement of the lever is indicated by the dotted lines of Figure 4 in which position the toggle links I99 will be in relative linear alignment. If at any time, when the sealing rolls 41 are not performing the operation of advancing the package sheets, the operator desires to institute such advancement, manual depression of the control rod 99 will cause the normally linearly aligned toggle links I99 to be brought into relative angular alignment thereby forcing the lever 6! to swing inwardly to move the roller 86 into the peripheral recess of the cam 94 and consequently to effect relative approach of the sealing rolls. In the cyclic operation of the lever 6| the spring 91 applies the sealing pressure between the coacting rolls 4? the lever 6I being then returned by the cam 84to its normal outer rest position. Except at the latter position of the lever 6I the toggle links I99 are always in some degree of angular relationship with one another so that the lever 6i may move freely but when the lever is in its outer position the links I99 being in relative alignment will lock the lever 6| in said outer position against the tendency of the spring to return the lever to its inner position, this lock being incapable of being released until the operator flips the control rod 99 downwardly to again institute advance movement of the package strips.

Means areprovided operative during the invterval-s when the advancement of the package strips is interrupted for sealing the latter in transverse areas which are equally spaced longitudinally of the strips so as to enclose the articles 36 .in individual hermetically sealed packages. .Secured to and rising from the opposite side rails I0, at positions intermediate the sealing rolls 4'! and the discharge opening I3 of the table, are vertically extending guide members .H2 provided in the relatively confronting inner faces thereof with vertical guide channels H3 in which is slidable a sealing head H4 extending transversely of the package strips and provided in its bottom surface with serrations I I6 adapted to intermesh, in the plane of movementof the package sheets, with complemental serrations H'I formed in the upper surface of a sealing bar H9 underlying and paralleling the sealing head H4 and fixedly secured at its opposite ends to the table side rails ID. The sealing head H4 and the sealing bar H8 are preferably each provided with embedded electric heater elements H9 by means of which heat sulficient to .cause fusion of the surface coatings of the package strips may be generated and conductively transmitted to the respective serrations H6 and H1. Attached to and depending from the opposite side rails II], at points below the fixed sealing bar H8, are bearing brackets I2I in ,which'is journaled a shaft I22 extending transversely of and under the table and carrying, at its opposite ends, levers I23 which are pivotally engaged by pins I24 with the lower ends of links I26 similarly pivotally attached at their upper ends by pins I21 secured to and extending horizontally from opposite ends of the sealing head H4. To one end of the shaft I22 is also connected, by a suitable clamping bolt I28 the lower split end of an upwardly extending lever I29 connected at its distal end, and by means of a pivot pin I 3|, with a link I32 whose opposite end is pivotally attached, by means of a pivot pin I33 with the lower end extension I34 of a control lever I36 which, in an intermediate portion, is rockably journaled on a pivot pin I3I secured to and extending from one of the support members 38 and which at its upper distal end is fitted with a pivot pin I38 on which is journaled a follower roller I39 adapted to bear against the peripheral surface of a cam I4I secured to and rotatable with the camshaft 16. A spring I42 secured at one end to the lever extension I34 and at its other end to an anchor pin I43, projecting outwardly from the adjacent side rail I9, serves to forcibly maintain the follower roller I39 in engagement with the periphery of the .cam MI. The cam MI is so shaped that, during each revolution thereof with the crankshaft 16,

the lever I36 will be reciprocably rocked thus causing the sealing head H4 to rise and descend in its guide channels H3, in the former case to permit free movement of the package strips 28 and 3| thereunder and in the latter case to clamp the package strips between the intermeshed serrations H6 and II! and thus cause fusion and relative adherence of transverse areas of the package strips enclosed between the sealing head and bar. The relative circumferential positions of the cams 84 and MI is such that the sealing head will descend to engage the package strips only during the interval when the roller 86 is overlying the portion 96 of the cam 84 or when the longitudinal motion of the package stripsis halted due to relative separation of the sealing rolls 41. At a subsequent time when the sealing rolls are again brought together to grip the package strips, the Sealing head II i will have already'started to rise after completing the transverse seal and consequently the package strips will be free to be moved longitudinally along the table.

As each transverse sealing of the package, strips is being effected by the sealing head II-i and bar H8, separation of a completed package, along the transverse sealed area previously made, is being accomplished. This iseifected by providing each inward and relatively confronting face of the support members 38 with vertically exintending guide grooves I44, as shown in Figure 5, in which are vertically slidably disposed the opposite ends of a longitudinally horizontal shear bar I45 to, the bottom portion of which is suitably attached, such as by means of mounting screws or bolts I ll, a shear blade I 58 having a sharpened lower cutting edge I49, disposed in vertical planar. registry with a cooperative fixed shear element here shown as the edge surface 15 i of the table I2 forming one side of the discharge opening I3. The upper edge of the shear bar Mil, preferably a portion thereof medially of its ends, is provided with a pair of relatively horizontally spaced and upwardly rising brackets I52 between which is disposed a roller I53 which is journaled on an axle I5 secured in the brackets I52 and which is adapted to be constantly peripherally engaged by a cam I56 secured to and rotatable with the camshaft 1'5.

Such interengagement of the cam I56 and roller I 53.. may be effected in numerous ways and is here shown as being accomplished by one or more coil springs I51 interposed between a portion of the shear bar, preferably the upper end of a bracket I52 and one or more collars I59 freely journaled on the cam shaft 16. The arrangement of the parts and the circumferential position of the cam I55 relative to the cam 84 are such that as the roller 88, previously swung inwardly by the manual control means previously described, has just come into engagement with the surface 95 of the latter cam to relatively sep-- arate the sealing rolls M, the point of greatest radial throw of the cam I55 will be coming into tangential engagement with the roller I53 thus causing the shear blade I48 to descend against the tension of the springs I51 to vertically traverse the fixed shear element or table edge I5I thereby shearing through the interposed package strips 28 and 3I substantially laterally medially of a transverse seal thereof and separating a finished package IEI therefrom, as shown in Figure 1, which package is then free to fall through the discharge opening I3 onto suitable receiving means which is here shown as a roller conveyor I58 along which the packages may thereafter move, preferably under the influence of gravity to an advanced collection or processing station not shown.

It will be seen that since the package-forming means, comprising the transverse sealing head IM and the cut-oif shear I48, and the stripadvancement mechanism comprising the sealing rolls ii are driven independently by separate :motors 82 and 72 respectively, it would be pos sible due to speed variations in the respective mot s t st r nc 1 meter ming bet ee h m tt n y ucces i e e ret qn might occur which might possibly cause variations in the sizes of respective packages and possible shearing of the package strips in arms 10 thereof other than those in which the transverse seals are located. Means is therefore provided for precisely regulating the degree of; each ad- Vance of the package sheets along the table so that the aforesaid transverse sealing and cut-off will be accomplished in the proper places. As shown in Figure 3, a stanchion I53 is secured to and rises from the side rail I0 which borders the discharge opening I3, on the side thereof adjacent the flywheel TI, and is provided at its upper end with a horizontally extending plate I64. On the stanchion I63, at a point intermediate the upper and lower ends thereof, is provided a pivot pin I66 on which is journaled one end of a toggle link I61 pivotally connected at its other end, by means of a pivot pin I68, with a second toggle link I68 which, by means of a pin I? I is pivotally connected with the release lever 99. A spring I12 connected at one end with the second toggle link I69 and at the other end with an anchor pin I13 carried by the plate I84, is arranged to urge the connected toggle links I59 and IE1 into relative longitudinal alignment-and thereby retain the release lever 9! in position wherein it holds the trip finger 89 in retracted position and consequently maintains theflywheel clutch in released condition. Also carried by an upper portion of the stanchion IE3 is a pivot pin I'M on which is mounted for vertical rocking movement a lever I16 having at the extreme distal end thereof a pivot pin I'II, connected with the upper end of an elongated downwardly extending pull link H8, and also having in an intermediate portion thereof a pivot pin I19 to which is connected a depending wing member I8I pivotally engaged at its lower end,'by means of a pin I82, with the upper end of a connecting link I83 which, in turn, is pivotally engaged, by means of a pin I84, with a medial portion of the toggle link I61. The laterally extending portion of the wing member I8 I carries and journals a roller I86 which, during vertical movement of the wing member and its connected link I83, is engageable with the vertically inclined upper cam surface I8'I of a f xed block I88 secured to, a lower portion of the plate I64. The lower end of the pull link I18 is pivotally attached, by means of a pin I89, with the vertically reciprocable armature I9I of an electrically-energizable solenoid I92 which is mounted by means of a bracket I93, or other such means, on a side rail IQ or other convenient portion of the mechanism supporting structure. A coil spring I94, secured at one end to, a portion of the lever I16 and at the other end to a wing extension I96 of the plate I54, exerts force to yieldably hold the lever I15 at the uppermost limit of its movement and consequently similarly retains the armature I9I in an extended elevated position as indicated inFigF ure 3. The coil spring I94 also retains the link and wing members I83 and I8I respectively'in vertically aligned positions, relative to the axes of their pivot pins and also holds the toggle i 1 m n w r t d Pos t n a ain the underside of the block I88 thereby maintaining the toggle links I61 and IE9 in relative horizontally aligned positions so as to retain the release lever 9| in engagement with the trip finger 88 and preserve a released condition of the flywheel clutch. The spring I94 operates, in' this instance, in conjunction with the spring I12 to yieldably retain the toggle links I 61 and IE9 in the aforesaid horizontally aligned pos tion but is capableof independent action relative to the latter spring in effecting operation of the trip mechanism as will be presently described. An additional spring I9! interposed between the wing member I8I and a portion of the plate I64, which may conveniently be the anchor pin I13, exerts a knuckling force on the pivotally connected link I99 and wing member IBI tending to yieldably retain the said link and member in relatively vertically aligned positions, a stop lug I98 on the latter member which engages a side of the link serving to establish the said alignment and limiting an extremity of the range through which the link and wing member may be pulled by contractive force of the spring I91. Completing the mechanism is a lever I99 secured to an end of the upper rocker shaft 39, so as to swing in correspondence with rotary movements of the latter, which is provided at the distal end thereof 7 with a roller 29I journaled on a suitable pivot pin 292 carried by the lever, and engageable with the vertically rockable cam face 293 of a downward wing extensionZM of the release lever 9I.

Due to the linear speed at which the package sheets 29 and 3| are advanced along the table, it would-be mechanically difficult to design a cam 84 which would, at the same time, effect the instant release of the strip-driving sealing rolls 51 necessary to high speed operation and to precisely time the cycles of the shear blade I49, by the elimination of substantial momentum overrun of the strips and their driving elements so that cut-offs would repeatedly be made exactly medially of the longitudinal sides of the transverse areas sealed by the head members I I4 and I I8. Mountedon a side portion of the table at a distance from the shear blade I49 which is an exact multiple of the width of the desired package which is prescribed by the linear spacing between the imprint marks 37 on the lower package strip 28, is a photoelectric cell unit 2% connected through conductors 201 and suitable current source and amplifying means, as is well known in the art, with the energizing coil of the solenoid I 92. A choice in the type of photoelectric mechanism is permissible. As here shown, for purposes of simplicity in the drawings, the photo-electric unit 296 may be positioned overlying the upper surface of the lower package strip 28 with the light transmission aperture or lens 298 vertically superposed over the path traveled by the imprint marks 31, the light beam for energizing the photocell being transmitted upwardly through the translucent package sheet from a suitable exciter lamp contained in the subjacent housing 269, the imprint areas 39, of course being opaque so as to interrupt the light beam. It is also within the scope of the invention, and as is well known in the art, to arrange the photo-electric apparatus so that both the photocell and exciter lamp units are disposed on the same side of'the package sheet in which case the imprint areas 39 would be composed of ink or other coating material containing a silvery metallic pigment such as powdered aluminum or the like so as to effect retroverse reflection of the exciter lamp beam into the photocell, the beam being interrupted when the imprint area 39 moves out of registry with the projection path of the'beam.

In operation, and starting from a point in the cycle wherein the respective feed, transverse sealing and cut-01f mechanisms are at rest it will be seen that the trip mechanism illustrated in Figure 3 will also be at rest, resulting in the 12 trol bar 99 as previously explained the sealing rolls 41 Will be brought into engagement with the package sheets in instituting the act of advancing the latter along the table and the follower roll 86 will then have been moved to lie in the radially recessed portion of the cam 84. Thus the package sheets gripped by the sealing rolls will be caused to advance along the table. As an advancing imprint area 31 carried by the bottom sheet 28 comes into registry with the photo-electric unit light beam the latter will be interrupted, or reflected as the case may be, thereby causing the solenoid I92 to be energized. Such energization of the solenoid causes a rather complex series of actions to occur in the trip mechanism illustrated in Figure 3. The first portion of downward movement of the solenoid armature 'I9I will cause the lever I16 to start its downward swing and in so doing will effect a downward knuckling of the toggle links I61 and I69, as shown in Figure 3A, by virtue of the interconnection between the lever and toggle links by the interposed link and wing members I83 and I8I respectively. This downcamshaft It. By manual depression of the Conward knuckling of the toggle links causes, simultaneously, outward swinging of the release lever B! so as to effect engagement of the flywheel clutch and interaction of the cam 203 and lever I99 so as to effect an instantaneous release of the sealing rolls 4! from the package sheets, independent of the action controlled by the lever GI, so as to halt advance movement of the latter along the table. Further movement downwardly of the solenoid armature will bring the roller I86 into engagement with the cam surface I81 of the fixed block I98 thereby causing, as shown in Figure 3B, an outward knuckling of the normally vertically aligned link I83 and wing member IBI and effecting an immediate upward swing and realignment of the toggle links I61 and I69 which swings the release lever 9I inwardly to its normal rest position to engage and trip the flywheel clutch after the trip finger 89 thereof has made a single revolution. Even though the cam 293 returns with the release lever 9| to an upward position, the latter will not be followed by the lever I99 controlling the separation of the sealing rolls for the reason that in the interim between the cycling movements of the release lever 9|, the camshaft I6 has started to rotate and consequently the function of holding the sealing rolls relatively apart will be taken over by the lever BI and its actuating cam 34. While the sealing rolls are apart, the rotating camshaft I6 will cause cycling movements ofthe transverse sealing heads II and H8 and also of the shear blade M9 to cut off the most advanced completely formed package which has been projected to overlie the discharge opening I3. As the camshaft I6 completes its unit cycle of rotation the follower roller 86 will remain in position radially outwardly of the cam 84 under restraint of the linearly aligned toggle links I 99 thereby preventing reengagement of the sealing rolls 9'! with the package sheets. movement of the package sheets, the imprint area 37 will be moved out of the light beam of the photo-electric unit which will immediately effect deenergization of the solenoid I92 allowing the armature I9! thereof to be moved by the tensioned springs I94 and I91 to its upper limit of'travel. During such action, the articulated link I83 and wing member I8I will be restored to their relatively vertically aligned relationship while the lever I76 will freely swing to its normal upward horizontal position without disturbing At the inception of a successive the: horizontal alignment-f the. toggle links [6] and. I69 which continueto hold the. release. lever 91 in. position to. retain the flywheel clutch in released condition. This of courserestores the roller to its initial position of; engagement with thecam 203 and inreadiness for the following cycle of operations when the succeeding imprint, 31 of the. lower package. sheet is brought into registry with. and interrupts the photo-electric light beam. Fromthe foregoing description of the operationof the trip mechanism it-will be seen that the novel arrangement is provided wherein, in a single. unidirectional movement of the solenoid; armature. l9l, the clutch release lever 9!. is caused to move through a multi.-- directional. operative cycle only of suificient duration, to effect release of the clutch trip finger. This phase. of. operation. may be. completed in. the fractional part of. a second and thereby renders the packaging mechanism; capable of higher operational speeds and consequently greater out-- put capacity than could be achieved with less sensitive or agile, mechanism, Also, it. will. be seen that; since. the operations of strip feed, sealing and cut-off; arev all synchronized throughthe mechanical control unit; shown in Figure; 3, and the, photo-electric: unit, permanent disparities or occasional variations in. the rotational speeds of. the separate drive motors i2 and 82 will. not upset the overall efficiency and preciseness of operation of the machine.

We claim:

1;. A package. formingand sealing machine comprising guide means. along which superposed strips of package forming material having interposed therebetween relatively spaced articles to be packaged may be moved along a generally horizontal path, means intermittently engaging said strips adjacent the edges thereof and for moving the latter and said articles in unison and in measured. increments along said guide means, said strip moving. means including means for sealing together: spaced primary areas of said strips extending in the direction of movement thereof, means engageable with said strips and operative between increments of movement thereof forsealing together said strips in relatively spaced. transverse areas thereof intermediate the positions of said articles and intersecting said primary areas, and means engageable with said strips and operative between said increments of movement thereof for cutting sections therefrom in said secondary transversely extending sealed areas.

2. A package forming and sealing iachine comprising guide means along which superposed strips of package forming material'having interposed therebetween relatively spaced articles to bepackaged may be moved, means intermittently tractionably engageable with said strips for moving the latter and said articles along said guide means in measured increments equivalent to the relative spacing between said articles, means carried by said strip moving means and engageable with opposite sides of said strips for sealing together continuous spaced primary areas of said strips and operative between increments of move ment thereof for sealing together said strips in spaced transverse secondary areasthereof intermediate the positions of said articles and intersecting said primary sealed areas, means engageable with said strips and operative between said increments of movement thereof for cutting sections therefrom in said secondary transversely extending sealed areas, control means associated 114 with. and. for vernin operation f? sa d str p moving, sealing and cutting means, andelements carried by one of said strips for: actuating said control means.

3. A package forming: and sealing machine comprising a table, a first carrier adjacent an end of said table for containing strip material and from which a first. strip of material may be dispensed. to pass along said table, a second carrier for strip material spaced relatively to said first carrier from which a second. strip of material may be dispensed to overlie said first strip, said space between said carriers defining a loading space in which articles to be packaged may be placed in relatively spaced array on said first strip of material, a plurality of rotatable drive members arranged to relatively approach and recede from each other so as to respectively engage said strips therebetween so as to move said strips and the articles carried thereby in unison along said table and to release said strips so that said movement along the table will be. interrupted, means for rotating said drive members, means for intermittently moving said drive members towards and from each other, means cooperative with said drive members for simultaneously sealing said strips together along opposed marginal edges thereof and during intervals when said strips are being moved along said table, separate sealing and cut-off means intermittently engageable with said strips for respectively efiecting sealing together of said strips in transverse areas thereof between said spaced articles and for separating sections of said strips in planes traversing said transverse sealed areas, and means for actuating said sealing and cut-01f means during intervals when said drive members are relatively receded with respect to said strips.

4. A package forming and sealing machine comprising a table, a first carrier adjacent an end of said table for containing strip material and from which a first strip of material may be dispensed to pass along said table, a second carrier for strip material spaced relatively'to said first carrier from which a second strip of material may be dispensed to overlie said first strip, said space between said carriers defining a loading space in which articles to be packaged may be placed in relatively spaced array on said first strip of material, a plurality of rotatable drive members arranged to engage said strips therebetween so as to move said strips and the articles carried thereby in unison along said table, means for rotating said drive members, means for intermittently moving said drive members towards and from each other so as to intermittently engage said strips for movement thereof and to release said strips so that said movement along the table will be interrupted, means cooperative with said drive members for simultaneously sealing said strips together along opposed marginal edges, thereof and during intervals when said strips are being moved along said table, separate sealing and cut-oif means intermittently engageable. with said strips for respectively efiecting sealing to ether of said strips. in transverse areas thereof between said spaced articles and for separating sections of said strips in planes traversing said transverse sealed areas, means for actuating said sealing and cut-off means during intervals. when said drive members are. relatively receded with respect to said strips, and means operative upon movement of. a strip along said table for synchroni ing theqmovement of said strips and the movements of said transverse sealing and cut-off means. v

5. A package forming and sealing machine comprising a table, a first carrier adjacent an end of said table for containing strip material and from which a first strip of material may be dispensed to pass along said table, a second carrier for strip material spaced relatively to said first carrier from which a second strip of material may be dispensed to overlie said first strip, said space between said carriers defining a loading space in which articles to be packaged may be placed in relatively spaced array on said first strip of material, rotatable drive members disposed on opposite sides of said first and second strips of material and arranged to engage and move said strips therebetween and alon said table, means for rotating said drive members, means for intermittently moving said drive members towards and from each other so as to intermittently engage said strips for movement thereof and to disengage said strips to terminate said movement thereof, means associated with said drive members for sealing said strips together along opposed marginal edges thereof, separate sealing and cut-off means intermittently engageable with said strips for respectively effecting sealing together of said strips in transverse areas thereof between said spaced articles and for separating sections of said strips in planes traversing said transverse sealed areas, and means for alternately bringing said sealing and cut-off means into engagement with said strips when said drive members are moved from said strips and for moving said drive members to ward and to engage said strips when the sealing and cut-off means are out of engagement with said strips.

6. A package forming and sealing machine comprising a table, a first carrier adjacent an end of said table for containing strip material and from which a first strip of material may be dispensed to pass along said table, a second carrier for strip material spaced relatively to said first carrier from which a second strip of material may be dispensed to overlie said first strip, said space between said carriers defining a loading space in which articles to be packaged may be placed in relatively spaced array on said first strip of material, rotatable roll members disposed above and below said strips of material and arranged to engage said strips therebetween so as to move the strips along said table, means for rotating said drive members, means for intermittently moving said drive members towards and from each other so as to intermittently engage said strips for movement thereof and further movable relatively apart so as to disengage said strips and interrupt movement thereof, means in said rolls for sealing said strips together along opposed marginal edges thereof, separate sealing and cut-off members arranged in relatively spaced positions longitudinally of said strips vertically reciprocable to intermittently engage said strips for sealing together transverse areas thereof intermediate said spaced articles and for separating sections of said strips in planes traversing said transverse sealed areas thereof, means for reciprocating said sealing and cut-off members, and means for moving said drive members toward and from each other in displaced phase relationship to reciprocatory movements of said sealing and cut-off members.

7. A package forming and sealing machine comprising a table, a first carrier adjacent an end of said table for containing strip material and from which a first strip of material may be dispensed to pass along said table, a second carrier for strip material spaced relatively to said first carrier from which a second strip of material may be dispensed to overlie said first strip, said space between said carriers defining a loading space in which articles to be packaged may be placed in relatively spaced array on said first strip of material, rocker shafts journaled on and in transverse relation to said table, means connecting said rocker shafts for opposed reciprocatory movement relative to each other, rotatable roll members carried by said rocker shafts disposed above and below said strips to engage the latter therebetween, a drive motor connected with and to constantly rotate said roll members in relative opposite directions, means for intermittently moving said roll members relatively toward and away from said strips so as to intermittently engage said strips for movement thereof and to disengage said strips so that movement will be interrupted, a rotary camshaft journaled on and disposed transversely of said table, a driving motor for said camshaft, clutch means interposed between and for effecting selective engagements and disengagements of said camshaft and said driving motor, separate sealing and cut-off members relatively spaced longitudinally of said table and reciprocably movable toward and from said strips for respectively sealing together transverse areas of said strips intermediate said spaced articles and for separating sections of said strips in planes traversing said transverse sealed areas thereof, means connecting said sealing and cut-off members with and for reciprocatory movement in response to rotation of said camshaft, control means cooperative with said clutch means for alternatively activating and deactivating the latter, means connected with said control means for reciprocably moving said rocker shafts so as to move the roll members 7 to alternately engage and disengage said strips,

and spaced elements on one of said strips operative upon movement of the latter alon the table for actuating said control means.

8. A package forming and sealing machine comprising a table, a first carrier adjacent an end of said table for containing strip material and from which a first strip of material may be dispensed to pass along said table, a second carrier for strip material spaced relatively to said first carrier from which a second strip of material may be dispensed to overlie said first strip, said space between said carriers defining a loading space in which articles to be packaged may be placed in relatively spaced array on said first strip of material, rocker shafts journaled on'and in transverse relation to said table, means connecting said rocker shafts for opposed reciprocatory movement relative to each other, rotatable roll members carried by said rocker shafts disposed above and below said strips to engage the latter therebetween, a drive motor connected with and to constantly rotate said roll members in relative opposite directions, means for intermittently moving said roll members relatively toward and away from said strips so as to intermittently engage said strips formovement thereof and to disengage said strips so that movement will be interrupted, a rotary camshaft journaled on and disposed transversely of 7 said table, a

driving motor for said camshaft, clutch means interposed between and for effecting selective engagements and disengagements of said camshaft, and said driving motor, separate sealing and cut-off members relatively spaced longitudinally of said table and reciprocably movable toward and from said strips for respectively sealing together transverse areas of said strips intermediate said spaced articles and for separating sections of said strips in planes traversing said transverse sealed areas thereof, means connecting said sealing and cut-off members with and for reciprocatory movement in response to rotation of said camshaft, control means including a solenoid actuating element cooperative with said clutch means for alternately activating and deactivating the latter, means cooperatively connected for movement with said solenoid and with said rocker shafts for reciprocably moving the latter so as to move the roll members to alternately engage and disengag said strips, photoelectric means connected with and to control energizations and deenergizations of said solenoid, and spaced elements on one of said strips operative upon movement of the strips along the table for actuating said photo-electric means.

9. A package forming and sealing machine comprising a table, a first carrier adjacent an end of said table for containing strip material and from which a first strip of material may be dispensed to pass along said table, a second carrier for strip material spaced relatively to said first carrier from which a second strip of material may be dispensed to overlie said first strip, said space between said carriers defining a loading space in which articles to be packaged may be placed in relatively spaced array on said first strip of material, a plurality of rotatable drive members arranged to respectively engage said strips therebetween so as to move said strips and the articles carried thereby in unison along said table, means for rotating said drive members, means for effecting relative movement of said drive members to approach and recede from each other so as to respectively engage said strips for movement of the latter and to release said strips so that said movement along the table will be interrupted, means cooperative with said drive members for simultaneously sealing said strips together along opposed marginal edges thereof and during intervals when said strips are being moved along said table, separate sealing and cutoff means intermittently engageable with said strips for respectively effecting sealing together of said strips in transverse areas thereof between said spaced articles and for separating sections of said strips in planes traversing said transverse sealed areas, means for actuatin said sealing and cut-ofi means during intervals when said drive members are relatively receded with respect to said strips, control means connected and operative with said drive members and said transverse sealing and cut-off means for synchronizing the movement of said strips and the movements of said transverse sealing and cut-01f means, and means carried by one of said strips and operative upon movement of the latter for actuating said control means.

10. The package forming and sealing machine comprising guide means along which superposed strips of package forming material may be moved along a generally horizontal path, means engaging said strips for moving the latter in unison and in measured increments along said guide means, means for sealing together spaced primary areas of said strips extending in the direction of movement thereof, means engageable with said strips and operative between increments of movement thereof for sealing together said strips in relatively spaced transverse areas thereof and intersecting said primary areas, and means engageable with said strips and operative between said increments of movementthereof for cutting sections therefrom in said secondary transversely extending sealed areas.

VAO- L. CHENEY. MAX E. TOBY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

